Marlborough-Nelson Marine Radio Association is an Incorporated Society providing marine communication facilities within the wider Tasman Bay, Golden Bay, Cook Strait andMarlborough Sounds area of New Zealand. 

In June 2018 Nelson Marine Radio and Marlborough Marine Radio combined to form Marlborough-Nelson Marine Radio Association Inc.

The purpose of the Association is to provide safety through communication on VHF channels and assistance to the boating fraternity in central New Zealand.  The privately owned channels and the services of Marlborough-Nelson Marine Radio are for the use of members only (unless in an emergency) - if you would like to join then please contact us.

Our repeaters cover most sea areas of central New Zealand - bounded by Kahurangi Point, Cape Farewell, Cape Egmont, Cape Palliser and Cape Campbell.

The Tasman Bay channel 28 located on Drumduan (between the Boulder Bank and Pepin Island) has changed to channel 04.

The coverage area remains the same but mariners should now, when in the Tasman Bay area, select channel 04 to receive weather broadcasts, place trip reports, call other vessels, or contact the Marlborough-Nelson Radio operator.  If members have channel 28 in the scan mode of their radio this should now be removed and channel 04 added.

The repeater (now channel 04) remains permanently linked to both channel 60 in Golden Bay and channel 65 in Pelorus Sound.

The Marlborough-Nelson Radio Executive has looked at the services offered to members and in particular the way a vessel's intentions and current position is logged.  Consideration has been given to what members want and issues of liability and the ability of operators to follow up situations as they arise.

There are two types of reports that Marlborough-Nelson Radio operators will accept.  They are Position Reports and Trip Reports.

To join Marlborough-Nelson Marine Radio and gain the use of our privately owned channels (01, 04, 60, 63, 65 and 66) complete an online application or contact our office by This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phoning (03) 573 8851 and they will send you an application form. 

Membership fees are kept as low as possible to encourage everyone to join - to 31 July 2019 a recreational membership is $88 (incl gst) and a commercial membership is $125 (incl gst).  Those commercial members with more than one vessel pay $110 (incl gst) for each additional vessel.

Call signs are a unique identifier for your vessel and are an important consideration for your safety.  If you don't know your current call sign then please contact Coastguard Boating Education who can help you to update your existing call sign or provide you with a new one.

When placing a Trip Report (TR) please be ready to provide the following:

  • Vessel name
  • Callsign
  • Departure point
  • Destination
  • Number of persons onboard (POB)
  • Estimated time of arrival (ETA)

Marlborough-Nelson Radio appreciates the support of the following:

Interislander

PortMarlborough1

Rata Foundation

Waves Electrical

Pub Charity

The Fishing Paper

Fire and Emergency

Transpower

Met Service

Motueka RSA Fising Competition

MaritimeNZ1

Marlborough Lines

Marlborough District Council

Lion Foundation

Marine and General

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